Loose leaf binder



June 23, 1931. A. G. LOTTI-:R

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 4, 1929 Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES AEOLPII e. LOITER, CE MILWAUKEE, WIsCoNsIN, 'AssIGNoEfrol sTA'rIoNEEs LOOSE LEAF Co., OE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OE WISCONSIN L OOsE LEAF BINDER 'Application led November 4, 1929. Serial No. 404,678.

f This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in loose leaf Y binders particularly of the type having two binder head so that upon the operation ofsuitable take-up mechanism, a retaining pressure is applied to a body of leaves inserted between the binder heads.

Various methods have been used in the past for connecting the detachable binder head with the post members, one of which is shown in mycopending application, Serial No. 282,- 725, filed J une 4, 1928. However, with this Vmethod the's'lide bar which forms the means Afor connecting the detachableY binder head with the post members was apt to be Aaccidentally withdrawn permitting the detach-V ment of thehe'ad from the post members and the consequentdisplacement of the leaves'.

It is, thereforeone of the` objects of this inventionto provide an improved cooperating p. connection between the'post members andthe slide bar which positively yprevents movement of the bar when the postrsections are drawn cauti Y A more specific object of this inventionresides inthe provision of depressions 'formed 'so in the slide bar adjacentV the key hole slots which receive the ends of the postfmembers, and in which the postl member ends are disposed when drawn taut to thus positively lock the bar against longitudinal movement.

With the above and other objects lin view which will appear as-the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes inthe precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention-may bemade as comewithin the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Iv have illustrated Onecompleteexample of thephysical embodiment of myinvention constructed according lto the best mode I have -so far devised for-,the practicalV application 0f the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a portion of a loose leaf binder constructed in accordance with my invention and having a.V portion of the upper. binder head broken away to illustrate structural details Y kFigure2 is a rear view ofthebinder with portions broken awayvr and insection; land* Figure 3 is a fragmentary, detail view simthe parts when the post members are extended and the slide is withdrawn to permit detachment'of the upper binder head.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numerals 5 and 6 represent 'upper and lower binder heads, respectively, of a loose leaf binder between which a body of leaves. 7 is adapted to be clamped, covers 8 (but one being'A shown) hingedly .connected-with the binder heads,

kprotecting the leaves. "The binder heads are y connected by flexible post members 9 whose inner ends are receivedwithin the lower head 6 and whose outer ends are extensiblyV projected therefrom to be' engaged with the upper head. As is customar the innermost ends of the flexible Vpost members arelconilarto Figure2, illustrating thepositionof nected with suitable take-up mechanism, in- Y dicated as 9a', and which is ofthe construction shown inrdetail in U; S. Patent No. 1,184,97 9 f of May 30th, 1916, to efl'ectthe'extension and retraction of the post membersupon actuationofakeylOQr f Both binder heads areof tubular construe tion and are preferably formed of similar channel members 411 arranged with their edges abutting. lThe particular construction of the lower binder head, however, forms no part of this invention and, therefore, the following descriptionwill be directed specifically tothe upper binder headf.v

The upper and lower walls of the upper head which are formed by the webs of the channel sections 11, are provided with aligned apertures 12 and 13, respectively, adjacent each end. lThe apertures 13 'being in the bottom wall are adapted to'Y receive the adjacent outermost ends'14 of the flexible post members to .permit their extension into the interior of theupper binder head and the apertures 12 serve to locate kcup-shaped sockconnect the flexible p ost members'. with the upper binder head. rlhe slide bar 19 extends throughout substantially the entire length; ci the upper binder head and is longitudinally slidable therein, being spaced` frointhe lower wall by downwardlystrnek depressions,A 2O

adjacent each opening 13, Guides or'feet' 21 rivetedl or otherwisesecured to the slide'bar cooperatewith the depressions 2O to maintain the barspaced from the lowerwall and a spring 22 riveted to thebar yieldably engages the Aupper wall'and thus holds the bar against vertical movement.

Aadjacent each depression 20 the bar is provided' with a key-hole 'slot 23 whose enlarged portions 24 align with the `socketm'embers and consequently'the ends of the flexible post members when the -bar is withdrawn, as illustrated in Figure 3.`

Ahoolr portion Q5 formed on onejend of the bar which extends'through an opening` 26 in the adjacent end of the binder'head, provides means'or'm0ving the bar from one positionto another. With the bar, vwith'- drawn, as illustratedin Figure, itisreadily apparent that the binder head be assembled with theends of the flexible binder'postk members, providing the post are' sulliciently loose In. this position the ends14L of theV flexible posts are received wholly within the socket members 15 so that the postsare rigidlyheld during the inward movement of the sli'debar A19 to engage the reduced portions 27 yof its hey h'ole slots with the annular grooves x18 of the post members; to connect Vthev binder Ahead with the post members. v j

It isnoted rtliatthe ends of the'reduced portions 27 vof the key-hole slot-s are inline with the' center ol' vthe depressions 20 so that a's the post members' are drawn taut, the

' enter ends 14 thereof bind against the outer Vsurface ofthe slide barv'within thedep'ressionsQZO so that 'longitudina;V movement of thefbar is Vpositively prevented except when Vthep'ost sections are suliiciently extended.

F rom this it isobviou's that after the upper binder head is assembled with the post members,'aec idental movement 'of the slide bar and the consequent detachment of the binder headis'j'imifoossible. Y' Y Itis also apparent that the depressions will at all times insure the complete inward movementoi the slide Vbar, lor if vthe operator shouldneglect toimovev the bar toits fully inserted position, theapplication of tension to the flexible post members in acting upon the sides of the depressions automatically moves the bar to its proper operative' position. Y

lVha-t l claim as my invention is:

1. ln a loose leaf binder, a pair of binder heads, a post member having extensible connection to oneV head and adapted to be passed Vintothe other, means for applying tension to said'post membeiga slide bar Vconcealed within saidfother binder head for readily detachablyconnecting the same with the post member, "andi means vfor positively vpreventing detachment o l' theV slide bar from the post member when tension lis applied to the post member. j i Q2. In a loose lealj'binden ap'ai'r of' binder heads adapted `to clamp a bodyfcfleaves therebetween, .an extensible post member lCarried by one binder head and ,adapted to be connected with the end of the post member passed through the body of leaves andinto upon longitudinal movement oftheslide bar,

and means carriedV by the fslide bar for preventing longitudinal movement thereofwhen the post member is retracted. Y

3. In a loose leafbinder', a pair-.ofybinder heads, a having extensible connection with onefbinder head1 and' adapted to be passedl througha body of leaves andinto the other binder head,

`means for readily detachably connecting .95 substantially lie'Xible postember said other binder head with the ,end ofthe iiexible lp ostmember, means for drawing said post member taut when connected with said other binder head -tocla-mpa body QileaVes between the two binder 'heads, and means, positively preventing detachment of the said other binder headfrom the end of the flexi-` ble post member when` the post .m'ember is drawntaut toy clamp a vbodyl of leaves.

; 1l. In a loose. leafbindei,a painofbinder heads, a substantially ieXible post member having. -extensible connection.` with one head and adapted to belpassed through' abodyof leaves and into theother head, means for app lying,tension to y'said post member. fa' slide ba'nwithin'said other headand having means detacliably connectible with the endet. the post member to' readilydetachably Vconnect the said other binderhe adwiththe post member, whereby .theapplication of tension tothe post member clamps a body .of leaves therebetween, and .an abutment on' said slide" bar cooperating with said post member vorpreventing its detachment :Eromthe end of the Vflexible Vpostmember while the Vpost member isundertension.

5. a loose leafbinder having. a flexible, extensible post member and a removable binder head-,ineans o'rreadil'y detachably connecting'the -po'st member with the binder passed through a body of leaves and into the other head, a slide bar within said other binder head having a key-hole slot with which the end of the post member is engageable to readily detachably connect said other f binder head with the post member upon longitudinal movement of the slide bar, vmeans for placing said post member under tension, and means formed on the slide bar ad] acent Vthe key-ho-leslot for preventing longitudinal movement of the slide bar and its consequent detachment from the post member when the post memberis under tension to clamp a body of leaves.

7. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of binder heads, substantially flexible post members, means for applying tension to said post mem,- bers to draw the post members into one binder head, a slide bar longitudinally movable Within the other binder head and yadapted Slide bari-Within the 'other binder head and movable longitudinally thereof to readily dep tachably connect said other binder head With the free ends of the post members, and means whereby longitudinal movement of the slide bar to release the said other binder head imparts outward longitudinal movement to the post members whereby the slide bar is held against such movement when the post members are under tension.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ADOLPH G. LoTTnR.

for detachable connection with the free ends of the post members before tension isl apl plied to the post members, and means positively preventing detachment of the slide bar from the post members when the post members are in tension.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of binder heads between which a body of leaves is adapted to be clamped, a substantially flexible post member` carried by one binder head v and adapted to be passed through a body of leaves and into the other binder head, means for applying tension to said post member, guide means within said other binder head for receiving the outermost end of the flexible post member and holding it against all but longitudinal movement with respect to the axis of the post member, a slide bar within said other binder head, cooperating means carried by the slide bar and the post member end for effecting a readily detachable connectiontherebetween upon longitudinal movement of the slide bar, said guide means holding the post member end during longitudinal movement of the slide bar, and means for preventing detachment of the slide bar from the post' member end when the post member is under tension to clamp leaves between the binder heads.

- 9. In a loose lea-f binder having a pair of binder heads, substantially flexible post members carried by one head, means'for drawing the post members intoV said binder head, a 

